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    Leviticus
    Leviticus
    Leviticus
    Ebook219 pages3 hours

    Leviticus

    By F. Wayne Mac Leod

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    About this ebook

    The book of Leviticus is an important book for many reasons. It gives us a better appreciation of what the Lord Jesus came to do for us. The sacrifices of the Old Testament looked forward symbolically to the sacrificial work of Christ on the cross. Through these Old Testament sacrifices we learn more about the work of the Lord Jesus.

    Secondly, the laws of the book of Leviticus teach us about what God expect of His people. While the cross of Jesus changed things, there is still much to learn from these laws about the character of God and the lifestyle He requires of all who belong to Him today.

    Finally, the regulations of the book of Leviticus teach us about God. As we learn what He required of His people, we see something of His character and work. We understand more fully who God is and what hinders fellowship with Him.

    The goal of this study is to help the reader to understand the book of Leviticus and see what it teaches us about God and His requirements. I trust this will be a tool to draw each reader closer to the Lord and into a deeper appreciation of what He has done.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherF. Wayne Mac Leod
    Release dateOct 30, 2014
    ISBN9781310545337
    Leviticus
    Author

    F. Wayne Mac Leod

    F. Wayne Mac Leod was born in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada and received his education at Ontario Bible College, University of Waterloo and Ontario Theological Seminary. He was ordained at Hespeler Baptist Church, Cambridge, Ontario in 1991. He and his wife, Diane served as missionaries with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship (now merged with SIM) on the islands of Mauritius and Reunion in the Indian Ocean from 1985-1993 where he was involved in church development and leadership training. He is presently involved in a writing ministry and is a member of Action International Ministries.

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      Book preview

      Leviticus - F. Wayne Mac Leod

      Leviticus

      A Devotional Look at the God's Standard of Behaviour for the Old Testament Believer

      F. Wayne Mac Leod

      LIGHT TO MY PATH BOOK DISTRIBUTION

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright © 2010 by F. Wayne Mac Leod

      All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise specified, are taken from the New International Version of the Bible (Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used with permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers, All rights reserved.)

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      A special thank you to Diane Mac Leod and Lee Tuson for their help with the editing and proof reading of this book.

      Table of Contents

      Preface

      Introduction

      Chapter 1 - The Burnt Offering

      Chapter 2 - The Grain Offering

      Chapter 3 - The Fellowship Offering

      Chapter 4 - The Sin Offering

      Chapter 5 - The Guilt Offering

      Chapter 6 - Regulations Concerning Offerings (Part 1)

      Chapter 7 - Regulations Concerning Offerings (Part 2)

      Chapter 8 - Aaron and His Sons are Ordained

      Chapter 9 - God Reveals His Glory

      Chapter 10 - A Lesson From Nadab and Abihu

      Chapter 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals

      Chapter 12 – Childbirth

      Chapter 13 - Laws Regarding Skin Disease and Mildew

      Chapter 14 - Ceremonial Purification from Skin Diseases and Mildew

      Chapter 15 - Unclean Discharges

      Chapter 16 - The Day of Atonement

      Chapter 17 - The Proper Place for Sacrifices and Rules about Eating Blood

      Chapter 18 - Laws Governing Sexual Behaviour

      Chapter 19 - Be Holy

      Chapter 20 - Punishment for Particular Sins

      Chapter 21 - Requirements for the Priests

      Chapter 22 - Respect for God's Holy Things

      Chapter 23 – Sacred Assemblies

      Chapter 24 - God's Holy Place; God's Holy Name

      Chapter 25 - The Sabbatical Year and the Year of Jubilee

      Chapter 26 - Blessings and Curses

      Chapter 27 - Rules Concerning Vows

      Light To My Path Book Distribution

      PREFACE

      The book of Leviticus is an important book for many reasons. It gives us a better appreciation of what the Lord Jesus came to do for us. The sacrifices of the Old Testament looked forward symbolically to the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. Through the Old Testament sacrifices we learn more about the work of our Lord.

      Secondly, the laws of the book of Leviticus teach us about what God expects of His people. It is true that the cross of Christ radically changed things, but there is still much to learn from the rules and laws of God about the lifestyle He requires of all who belong to Him.

      Finally, the regulations of the book of Leviticus teach us about God. As we learn what He requires of His people we will see something of His character and His work. We will understand more fully who God is and what hinders us from enjoying fellowship with Him. All this should encourage deeper intimacy with Him.

      Leviticus is a vital part of Scripture. The goal of this study, and the challenge for me as the author, is help the reader to see the character of God and His purposes more fully. I trust that this study will be a tool to draw each reader closer to their Lord and into a deeper appreciation of what He has done for us.

      F. Wayne Mac Leod

      INTRODUCTION

      Author:

      Moses is the traditionally considered to be the author of the book of Leviticus. While the book does not clearly state this, it is obvious that the laws recorded in the book were given directly to him by the Lord. The phrase, the Lord said to Moses, is repeated often in Leviticus. Both Jesus and the apostles referred to the Old Testament laws and regulations as the Law of Moses (see Luke 2:22; Acts 13:39; 1 Corinthians 9:9; Hebrews 10:28). It is possible that Moses had a secretary to write down the words the Lord gave him but the laws and regulations found in this book were revealed directly to Moses for his people.

      Background:

      Israel had been freed from her bondage in the land of Egypt. As they left Egypt they were a loosely connected people without laws or understanding of their God. They had been influenced by the religion of Egypt. They had no priests or Scriptures to guide them in the way of the God of their fathers. They did not know His requirements nor did they know their God.

      As they camped around Mount Sinai the Lord spoke to Moses and revealed to him His requirements for worship and behaviour. He instructed his people in the kind of sacrifices they were to bring to Him and how they were to live as His people. He taught them the difference between clean and unclean, pure and holy and showed them what to do when they found some uncleanness in their midst.

      A central theme of the book is holiness. God called His people to be holy, just as He was holy (see Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:6). The holiness God speaks about in the book of Leviticus touches all of life. Physical cleanliness, sexual behaviour, attitude of the heart, spiritual faithfulness, social relationships or respect for the environment are all covered in the Lord’s definition of holiness in this book.

      Importance of the Book for Today:

      Leviticus is a significant book because of what it teaches us about the requirements of God for Old Testament believers. While we are no longer under the law after the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the book of Leviticus teaches us how true holiness touches every part of our life. Leviticus shows us that there is no such thing as a Sunday Christian. That is to say, God expects us to live out our relationship with Him in our workplace or in the privacy of our own home every day of the week. He is concerned about the thoughts of our minds, the attitudes of our heart, how we treat our employees, family or the environment. True holiness affects everything we do as followers of God.

      Leviticus also teaches us about the justice of God. He holds us accountable for our actions. Every sin needed to be punished or covered by the blood of a sacrifice. Sin, uncleanness or impurity would not be ignored. God required that His people live according to His standard or pay the consequences for their actions. Leviticus speaks powerfully about justice and the penalty for sin. Sections of this book are devoted to the curse of God on those who walk in disobedience. Sin is an obstacle to our relationship with God. Leviticus speaks to us in our day about the barrier of sin and shows us that it cannot be ignored if we want to know God and walk in his path.

      Throughout the whole book of Leviticus we also see the compassion and forgiveness of God. We cannot read the book without seeing the great effort the Lord God made to cover every offense His people would make. The provision of sacrifices for the forgiveness of sin shows us that the Lord God had not given up on His people. His love for them was such that He wanted to forgive and heal them and their land. All these sacrifices point to the wonderful grace and patience of God toward His people in providing them a way of forgiveness. They also point to the even greater work of the Lord Jesus for all who will accept His sacrifice on their behalf for the forgiveness of sin.

      Chapter 1 - THE BURNT OFFERING

      Read Leviticus 1:1-17

      Leviticus begins with an examination of the various sacrifices a Jewish believer could offer to the Lord. As we begin our study, God is speaking to Moses in the Tent of Meeting. As they spoke together that day God gave instructions to Moses about the various types of sacrifices the Jews were to make (verse 2). The requirements for these sacrifices and offerings came directly from God. The words and regulations contained in this book are not of human origin but from God Himself. While Moses spoke these words and wrote them down for the people, the true author of this book is God. These were His requirements for His people.

      In chapters 1-7 of the book of Leviticus we learn that there were five different types of offerings a Jewish believer could make to the Lord God; the burnt offering (Leviticus 1), the grain or cereal offering (Leviticus 2), the fellowship or peace offering (Leviticus 3), the sin offering (Leviticus 4:1-5:13) and the guilt offering (Leviticus 5:14-6:7). In this chapter we will examine what God told Moses about the burnt offering.

      Any animal offered as a burnt offering was to be a male without defect from the herd (verse 3). There are three important points we need to make here.

      First, the animal was to be from their herd. This means that it was going to cost something for the person who was offering the sacrifice. They could not offer a wild animal they had trapped. The only animal acceptable to God was one they had cared for themselves. David understood this when he was offered free oxen for a burnt offering in 2 Samuel 24:22-24. Listen to his words to Araunah in this passage:

      (22) Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. (23) O king, Araunah gives all this to the king. Araunah also said to him, May the LORD your God accept you. (24) But the king replied to Araunah, No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.

      God expects that our offerings cost us something. Remember that He offered His Son to us at great cost. Although salvation is a free gift given to us by God, living in a relationship with Him can be costly. God expects that we be willing to take up our cross to follow Him.

      Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

      Sacrificial living is not an option. It was a requirement for every man and women in Israel. God taught Moses that the burnt offerings brought to the altars of Israel were to come as true sacrifices from His people. He expects that we have the same heart today.

      The second requirement for the burnt offering was that it be without defect. The Lord expected that His people bring the best they had to Him. They were bringing their gift to the Lord God. To offer a sick or injured animal they themselves could not use would be an insult the Lord God. He deserved the best they had. He still does.

      The third requirement of verse 3 is that the animal be a male without defect. We need to remember here that these sacrifices were symbolic of what was to come. Consider the phrase male without defect. The Lord Jesus came to this earth as a man. He lived a perfect life and died as a sacrificial lamb for our sin. The animal that was brought to the altar looked forward to the time when a perfect man would come to offer His life as a sacrifice for our sins.

      Notice also in verses 3-4 that the offering was to be brought to the Tabernacle. The person bringing the offering was to place his hands on the animal’s head so that it would be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. By putting his hands on the animal’s head, the worshipper was identifying with the sacrifice that was to be made. He symbolically passed his guilt to the animal that was killed on his behalf. This is in reality a very powerful picture of what the Lord Jesus did for us. He took our sins on Himself and laid down His life as a sacrifice so that we could be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with the Father.

      If the animal being offered was a young bull, it was to be slaughtered and Aaron’s sons would catch the blood and sprinkle it against the sides of the altar (verse 5). The dead bull would then be skinned and cut into pieces (verse 6). Aaron and his sons would prepare a fire on the altar and arrange the various pieces that had been cut on the altar. In this particular form of offering everything was to be burnt, even the head and the fat (verse 8). The inner parts and the legs were to be washed with water possibly to remove any dung or uncleanness before being burnt. If all these requirements were observed the smell of this offering would rise to God as a pleasing aroma (verse 9). In other words, He would accept their offering.

      Notice that the aroma of this sacrifice was a pleasing aroma to the Lord. This tells us that the Lord delights in our sacrifices. Though we owe everything to God, He is not blind to the sacrifices we make for Him. In fact, our service and offerings rejoice His heart. This is in reality quite amazing to me. Why should God delight in us paying back to Him what He already deserves and owns? He sees the attitude of my heart and the love with which I bring my offering and is pleased.

      A burnt offering did not have to be a young bull. It could also be a sheep or goat (verse 10). If it was a sheep or goat it was to be a male without default. It was slaughtered at the north side of the altar. As with the young bull, Aaron’s sons were to take the blood from the sacrifice and sprinkle it against the sides of the altar (verse 11). The sheep or goat was then cut into pieces, the inner parts and the thighs washed of any defilement and the head, fat and all the pieces burnt as an offering to the Lord.

      The third type of animal that could be offered as a burnt offering was a dove or a pigeon. It is quite possible that there were individuals in Israel who did not have a bull or a sheep to sacrifice to the Lord. These individuals could bring a pigeon or dove. If the offering brought to the Lord was a bird, the priest was to bring it to the altar, wring off its head, tear it open by the wings (verse 17) and burn it on the altar. Its blood was drained out at the side of the altar (verse 15). The crop and any undigested food was removed and thrown to the east of the altar where the ashes from the offerings were kept (verse 16).

      Notice that this small offering also

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